Protective garment

ABSTRACT

A protective garment for preventing injury to the head, neck and torso. A helmet is rotatable mounted on a vest. The helmet includes a visor and a front section that is partially coextensive with the neck section and which is capable of being opened. The vest includes a back section and a left front section and a right front section. The left front section and the right front section are both mounted to rotate on the back section to be folded together to close the vest and to hold the helmet on the vest. Both the left front section and the right front section have an upper section which is rigid and a lower section which is flexible.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to protective garments and moreparticularly to a protective vest and head gear for use in hazardousactivities, as for example, riding a motorcycle.

[0003] 2. Prior Art and Objects

[0004] For sometime, it has become commonplace for persons engaged in ahazardous activity to wear protective head gear. Motorcycle operators inmany jurisdictions are required to wear a helmet and construction andfactory workers are required to wear protective head gear frequentlyreferred to as “hard hats.”

[0005] Absolute total protection for the entire body from all hazardousactivities is not possible, at least in a manner that permits the wearerto perform the desired activity. However, what further protection can beachieved is highly desirable.

[0006] Motorcycle operation is particularly hazardous as the operator istotally exposed except possible for a helmet and possible a leatherjacket and leather pants. However, motorcycles are increasing popular,frequently being operated by professionals and business executives.Unfortunately, with motorcycle operation, there is ultimately a nearcertainty that an accident will occur. Some of those accidents willresult in limited injury but serious injury is a realty of motorcycleoperation.

[0007] The body torso contains vital organs most vulnerable to injury.The head is protected by a helmet but the torso of the body includingthe body, chest and abdomen can receive a hard impact resulting inserious injury and even death. Even with a helmet in place, the neckalso can be seriously injured unless excessive movement of the head isprevented.

[0008] In the Scaglione Patent, U. S. Pat. No. 6,253,389, a protectivegarment is described and claimed. The device, described in the patentworks well to protect the wearer but a need still exists for a more userfriendly device without compromising safety.

[0009] Therefore, it is an object of this investigation to provide aprotective garment to shield the torso from injury.

[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide a protectivegarment that protects the neck.

[0011] It is still another object of the invention to provide aprotective garment including both a vest and helmet that can be easilyworn.

[0012] It is still another object of the invention to provide aprotective garment that is comparatively inexpensive to produce and ofpleasant appearance.

[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art as thedescription thereof proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A protective garment for the head neck and torso of the body of aperson wearing the protective garment which includes a helmet and a vestwhich vest has a back section, a left front section and a right section.The helmet has a head section with a visor and a neck section and afront section which is partially coextensive with the neck section, thefront section being capable of being opened. The left front section andthe right front section are mounted to rotate on the back section tobring the left front section and the right front section together. Theleft front section has an upper left section which is rigid and a lowerleft front section which is flexible. The right front section has anupper right front section which is rigid and a lower right hand sectionwhich is flexible. A fastening means secures the left front section andthe right front section together. The helmet has a lower edge and thevest has an upper edge. A means is provided at the lower edge of thehelmet and at the upper edge of the vest to secure the helmet to thevest and to permit the helmet to rotate on the vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015]FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of the protective garment in a closedposition as worn.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a pictorial view of a portion of the vest showing onlythe back section and the right front section with the right frontsection rotated back from the closed position.

[0017]FIG. 3 is a pictorial view of the protective garment with thehelmet in place with the left front section closed and the right frontsection removed.

[0018]FIG. 4 is a detail of the flange at the lower edge of the helmetlocated in the indentation of the collar on the vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] As best seen in FIG. 1, the protective garment includes a helmet11 and a vest 13. The helmet 11 is similar to known helmets now worn bymotorcycles operators and has a head section 15 and neck section 17which fits about the neck. The neck section 17 has a lower edge 19 whichis also the lower edge 19 of the helmet 11. The lower edge 19 of thehelmet 11 is essentially circular. A visor 21 is located in the front ofthe helmet 11 in the head section 15 to permit the obviously essentialvisibility and can be rotated open about pivots 20.

[0020] A feature of the helmet 11 which is distinctive from helmetscurrently known, is a flange 23 at the lower edge 19 of the helmet 11.This flange 23, best seen in FIG. 4, is a protrusion extending outwardlyfrom the helmet 11 generally at right angles to the vertical axis 25 ofthe helmet 11 as worn. The flange 23 also extends continuously about theentire lower edge 19 of the helmet 11 and thus is essentially circularas is the lower edge 19.

[0021] Beneath the visor 21 and partially coextensive with the necksection 17 is a front section 24. The helmet 11 is put on the head byopening the front section 24 of the helmet 11 which is hinged on theleft side by a hinge (not shown). The front section 24 of the helmet 11is then secured by a locking device 26. A vent 26A is located in thefront section 24 to permit air to enter the helmet 11.

[0022] The vest 13 has three major sections, as seen in FIG. 1 and inFIG. 2, namely a back section 27 and a left front section 29 and a rightfront section 31. The left front section 29 has an upper left frontsection 29A and a lower left front section 29B. The right front section31, has an upper right front section 31 A and a lower right frontsection 31 B. The terms “left” and “right” are consistent with the leftand right sides and arms of one wearing the protective garment. Theright front section 31 and the left front section 29 are generally eacha quarter of the vest 13 and are both located on the front of the wearerto cover the chest and abdomen of the wearer.

[0023] The upper left section 29A is at the top of the left frontsection 29 and is substantially smaller than the lower left frontsection 29B. The upper left front section 29A is made from a hardsubstance, as is the back section 27 of the vest 13 while the lower leftfront section 29B is made of a material such as heavy duty leather whichprevents abrasions and provides at least limited flexibility. Similarly,the upper right front section 31A is at the top of the right frontsection 31 and is substantially smaller than the lower right frontsection 31 B. The upper left front section 31A is also made from a hardsubstance while the lower right front section 31 B is also made from amaterial such as leather that is highly protective but flexible.

[0024] The upper left section 29A and the lower lleft front section 29Bjoin one another at a seam 29C. Similarly, the upper right front section31A and the lower right front section 31 B join one another at a seam 31C.

[0025] The back section 27 covers the back and represents approximatelyone-half of the vest 13. The vest 13 has an upper edge 33 which isconnected to the helmet 11 about the neck of the wearer and a lower edge35 which fits about the waist of the wearer.

[0026] At the upper edge 33 of the vest 13, a collar 37 is formed aspart of the vest 13 and is part of the back section 27 and the leftfront section 29 and the right front section 31. The collar 37 iscircular when the left front section 29 and the right front section 31are secured to one another and the collar 37 extends about all the wayaround the vest 13. The collar 37 protrudes outside the upper edge 33 ofthe vest 13 and has an internal surface 39 with an indentation 41 on theinternal surface 39. Within the indentation 41 are partially recessedroller bearings 42. The indentation 41 is horizontal and is adapted toreceive the flange 23. The flange 23, when in the indentation 41, ispermitted to glide on the roller bearings 42. In this way, with the vest13 closed and with the collar 37 completely encasing the flange 23, thehelmet 11 readily rotates with the turning of the head of the wearer.

[0027] The right front section 31 and the left front section 29, whenfolded together, come in very close proximity to one another and arejoined in the center of the front of the protective garment by afastener 43, preferably a slide fastener 43 having two sets ofinterlocking teeth 45. The left front section 29 has a left center edge47 and the right front section 31 has right center edge 49. When thevest 13 is closed, the left center edge 47 and the right center edge 49are in close proximity to one another and face one another. The fastener43 is mounted on both the left center edge 47 and the right center edge49 and has a upper end 51 and a lower end 53. In order to engage thefastener 43, the left front section 29 and the right front section 31must be folded together with the left center edge 47 and the rightcenter edge 49 facing one another as just explained. The fastener 43permits complete release between the left front section 29 and the rightfront section 31 when opened.

[0028] In both the left front section 29 and the right front section 31,toward the upper edge 33 of the vest 13, a semicircular opening 55 isformed. In the back section 29, two semicircular openings 57 are formed,one of which matches the semicircular opening 55 in the left frontsection 29 to form a left opening 59 and the other semicircular opening57 in the back section 29 mates with the semicircular opening 55 in theright front section 31 to form a right opening 61. The left opening 59and the right opening 61 are generally aligned with one another and aregenerally equally spaced from the upper edge 33 of the vest 13.

[0029] A left hinge 63 extends from the right opening 61 to the loweredge 35 of the vest 13 and a right hinge 64 extends from the leftopening 59 to the lower edge 35 of the vest 13. Both the left frontsection 29 and the right front section 31 form a slight overlap 65 onthe back section 27 from the left opening 59 to the upper edge 33 of thevest 13. Directly above the left hinge 63 and the right hinge 64,separate pins 67 join respectively the left front section 29 and theback section 27 and joins the right front section 31 and the backsection 27. The left pin 67 is aligned with the left hinge 63 and theleft front section 29 rotates on the left pin 67 and the left hinge 63.The right pin (not shown) is aligned with the right hinge 64 and theright front section 31 rotates on the right pin (not shown) and theright hinge 64. The left hinge 63 and the right hinge 64 are preferablymade a tough flexible material such as used in seatbelts.

[0030] A lock 73 of any suitable design is mounted on the collar 37across the left center edge 47 and the right center edge 49. The lock 73serves to assure that the vest 13 will not open on impact thus alsoassuring that the helmet 11 will remain secured to the vest 13.

[0031] To wear the protective garment, the wearer places the vest 13with the left front section 29 and the right front section 31 open andwith the part of the left opening 59 and right opening 61 held on thearms, the helmet 11 is placed on the head and the flange 23 is fittedinto the indentation 41 on the back section 27. The right front section31 and left front section 29 are then folded together with the flange 23sliding into the indentation 41 in the collar 37 of the left frontsection 29 and the right front section 31. The fastener 43 and the lock73 are then both secured.

[0032] Thus, while a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenshown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat many changes and modifications may be made without departing fromthe invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are thereforeintended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:
 1. A protective garment for the head, neck and torso of thebody of a person wearing the protective garment, such protective garmentcomprising: a helmet having a head section with a visor and a necksection and a front section partially co-extensive with the necksection, the front section being capable of be opened; a vest having anupper edge and a lower edge, the vest including a back section, a leftfront section and a right front section, the left front section and theright front section being mounted to rotate on the back section to bringthe left front section and the right front section together; the leftfront section being an upper left front section which is rigid and alower left front section which is flexible and a right front sectionhaving an upper right front section which is rigid and a lower rightfront section which is flexible; fastening means to secure the leftfront section and the right front section together; and means located atthe lower edge of the helmet and at the upper edge of the vest to securethe helmet to the vest and to permit the helmet to rotate on the vest.2. A protective garment according to claim 1 wherein the means to securethe helmet to the vest to rotate on the vest includes a flange at thelower edge of the helmet and an indentation at the upper edge of thevest, the flange being located in the indentation with the left frontsection and the right front section being together.
 3. A protectivegarment according to claim 1 wherein the neck section is reduced in sizefrom the head section.
 4. A protective garment according to claim 1wherein the left front section and the right front section aresubstantially the same size and are approximately one half the size ofthe back section.
 5. A protective garment according to claim 1 whereinthe fastening means is continuous and interlocking.
 6. A protectivegarment according to claim 1 wherein the back section and the leftsection have a left opening located toward the upper edge and the backsection and the right front section have a right opening locatedsubstantially in the same relationship to the upper edge as the leftopening.
 7. A protective garment for the head, neck and torso of thebody of a person wearing the protective garment, such protective garmentcomprising: a helmet including: a head section which is adapted to fitabout the head, the head section further including a visor to providevisibility; and a neck section which is reduced in size from the headportion and having a lower edge, the lower edge being generallycircular, and a front section partially co-extensive with the necksection, the front section being capable of be opened; a vest having anupper edge and a lower edge, the vest including: a back section, a leftfront section and a right front section, the left front section and theright front section being both mounted to rotate on the back section andthe left front section and the right front section being adapted to foldtoward one another so as to be in close proximity to one another, theleft front section being an upper left front section which is rigid anda lower left front section which is flexible and a right front sectionhaving an upper right front section which is rigid and a lower rightfront section which is flexible; a fastening means to secure the leftfront section and the right front section together; a collar section atthe upper edge of the back section and the left and right frontsections, the collar section being substantially circular when the leftand right front sections are folded toward one another and are in closeproximity to one another, the lower edge of the helmet being mounted torotate in the collar; and the back section and the left front sectionhaving a left opening located toward the upper edge and the back sectionand the right front section having a right opening located substantiallyin the same relationship to the upper edge as is the left opening.
 8. Aprotective garment according to claim 7 wherein the back section of thevest is approximately one-half of the vest and the left front sectionand the right front section are each approximately one-quarter of thevest.
 9. A protective garment according to claim 7 wherein the leftfront section is mounted to rotate on the back section by means of aleft hinge and the right front section is mounted to rotate on the backsection by means of a right hinge.
 10. A protective garment according toclaim 7 wherein the left front section is mounted to rotate on the backsection by means of a left hinge and the right front section is mountedto rotate on the back section by means of a right hinge, the left hingeextending generally from the left opening to the lower edge of the vestand the right hinge extending generally from the right opening to thelower edge of the vest.
 11. A protective garment according to claim 7wherein the fastening means is continuous and interlocking.
 12. Aprotective garment according to claim 7 wherein the left front sectionslightly overlaps the back section between the left opening and theupper edge of the vest and the right front section slightly overlaps theback section between the right opening and the upper edge.
 13. Aprotective garment according to claim 7 wherein the left front sectionslightly overlaps the back section between the left opening and theupper edge of the vest and the right front section slightly overlaps theback section between the right opening and the upper edge; and a leftpin is located through the left front section and the back section topermit the left section to rotate on the left pin and a right pin islocated through the right front section to permit the right frontsection to rotate on the right pin, the left front pin being alignedwith the left hinge and the right pin being aligned with the righthinge.
 14. A protective garment according to claim 7 further including aleft cushion encircling the left opening and a right cushion encirclingthe right opening.
 15. A protective garment for the head, neck and torsoof the body of a person wearing the protective garment, such protectivegarment comprising: a helmet having a vertical axis including: a headsection which is adapted to fit about the head, the head portion furtherincluding a visor to provide visibility, and a neck section which isreduced in size from the head portion and having a lower edge, the loweredge being generally circular and including a flange, the flangeextending about the lower edge generally at right angles to the verticalaxis of the helmet, the flange being substantially circular, and a frontsection partially coextensive with the neck section the front sectionbeing capable of being opened a vest having an upper edge and a loweredge, the vest including: a back section, a left front section and aright front section, the back section being approximately one half ofthe vest and the left front section and the right front section eachbeing approximately one-quarter of the vest, the left front sectionbeing connected to the back section by a left hinge so as to be rotatedon the back section and the right front section being connected to theback section by a right hinge and the left front section and the rightfront section being adapted to fold toward one another so as to be inclose proximity to one another, the left front section including anupper left front section located toward the helmet and which is rigidand a lower left front section located away from the helmet and which isflexible, the lower left front section being substatntially larger insize than the upper left front section, the right front front sectionincluding an upper right front section located toward the helmet andwhich is rigid and a lower right front section located away from thehelmet and which is flexible; a fastening means to secure the left frontsection and the right front section together, the fastening means beingcontinuous and interlocking; a collar at the upper edge of the backsection and the left and right front sections, the collar beingsubstantially circular when the left and right front sections are foldedtoward one another and are in close proximity to one another, the collarsection having an internal surface with an indentation, the indentationbeing generally at right angles to the vertical axis of the helmet andbeing adapted to hold the flange while permitting the flange to turnwithin the indentation, the back section and the left front sectionhaving a left opening located toward the upper edge and the back sectionand the right front section having a right opening located substantiallyin the same relationship to the upper edge as is the left opening, theleft hinge being located between the left opening and the lower edge andthe right hinge being located between the right opening and the loweredge, the left front section slightly overlapping the back sectionbetween the left opening and the upper edge and the right front sectionslightly overlapping the back section between the right opening and theupper edge; and a left pin through the left front section and the backsection to permit the left front section to rotate on the left pin and aright pin through the right front section and the back section to permitthe right front section to rotate on the right pin, the left pin beingaligned with the left hinge and the right pin being aligned with theright hinge.